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by the Italians。
CHAPTER XIII
CONCERNING AUXILIARIES； MIXED SOLDIERY； AND ONE'S OWN
AUXILIARIES； which are the other useless arm； are employed when a prince
is called in with his forces to aid and defend； as was done by Pope
Julius in the most recent times； for he； having； in the enterprise
against Ferrara； had poor proof of his mercenaries； turned to
auxiliaries； and stipulated with Ferdinand； King of Spain； for his
assistance with men and arms。 These arms may be useful and good in
themselves； but for him who calls them in they are always
disadvantageous； for losing； one is undone； and winning； one is their
captive。
And although ancient histories may be full of examples； I do not wish to
leave this recent one of Pope Julius II； the peril of which cannot fall
to be perceived； for he； wishing to get Ferrara； threw himself entirely
into the hands of the foreigner。 But his good fortune brought about a
third event； so that he did not reap the fruit of his rash choice；
because； having auxiliaries routed at Ravenna； and the Switzers having
risen and driven out the conquerors （against all expectation； both his
and others）； it so came to pass that he did not bee prisoner to his
enemies； they having fled； nor to his auxiliaries； he having conquered
by other arms than theirs。
The Florentines； being entirely without arms； sent ten thousand
Frenchmen to take Pisa； whereby they ran more danger than at any other
time of their troubles。
The Emperor of Constantinople； to oppose his neighbours； sent ten
thousand Turks into Greece； who； on the war being finished； were not
willing to quit； this was the beginning of the servitude of Greece to
the infidels。
Therefore； let him who has no desire to conquer make use of these arms；
for they are much more hazardous than mercenaries； because with them the
ruin is ready made； they are all united； all yield obedience to others；
but with mercenaries； when they have conquered； more time and better
opportunities are needed to injure you； they are not all of one
munity； they are found and paid by you； and a third party； which you
have made their head； is not able all at once to assume enough authority
to injure you。 In conclusion； in mercenaries dastardy is most dangerous；
in auxiliaries； valour。 The wise prince； therefore； has always avoided
these arms and turned to his own； and has been willing rather to lose
with them than to conquer with others； not deeming that a real victory
which is gained with the arms of others。
I shall never hesitate to cite Cesare Borgia and his actions。 This duke
entered the Romagna with auxiliaries； taking there only French soldiers；
and with them he captured Imola and Forli； but afterwards； such forces
not appearing to him reliable； he turned to mercenaries； discerning less
danger in them； and enlisted the Orsini and Vitelli； whom presently； on
handling and finding them doubtful； unfaithful； and dangerous； he
destroyed and turned to his own men。 And the difference between one and
the other of these forces can easily be seen when one considers the
difference there was in the reputation of the duke； when he had the
French； when he had the Orsini and Vitelli； and when he relied on his
own soldiers； on whose fidelity he could always count and found it ever
increasing； he was never esteemed more highly than when every one saw
that he was plete master of his own forces。
I was not intending to go beyond Italian and recent examples； but I am
unwilling to leave out Hiero； the Syracusan； he being one of those I
have named above。 This man； as I have said； made head of the army by the
Syracusans； soon found out that a mercenary soldiery； constituted like
our Italian condottieri； was of no use； and it appearing to him that he
could neither keep them nor let them go； he had them all cut to pieces；
and afterwards made war with his own forces and not with aliens。
I wish also to recall to memory an instance from the Old Testament
applicable to this subject。 David offered himself to Saul to fight with
Goliath； the Philistine champion； and； to give him courage； Saul armed
him with his own weapons； which David rejected as soon as he had them on
his back； saying he could make no use of them； and that he wished to
meet the enemy with his sling and his knife。 In conclusion； the arms of
others either fall from your back； or they weigh you down； or they bind
you fast。
Charles VII； the father of King Louis XI； having by good fortune and
valour liberated France from the English； recognized the necessity of
being armed with forces of his own； and he established in his kingdom
ordinances concerning men…at…arms and infantry。 Afterwards his son； King
Louis； abolished the infantry and began to enlist the Switzers； which
mistake； followed by others； is； as is now seen； a source of peril to
that kingdom； because； having raised the reputation of the Switzers； he
has entirely diminished the value of his own arms； for he has destroyed
the infantry altogether； and his men…at…arms he has subordinated to
others； for； being as they are so accustomed to fight along with
Switzers； it does not appear that they can now conquer without them。
Hence it arises that the French cannot stand against the Switzers； and
without the Switzers they do not e off well against others。 The
armies of the French have thus bee mixed； partly mercenary and partly
national； both of which arms together are much better than mercenaries
alone or auxiliaries alone； yet much inferior to one's own forces。 And
this example proves it； the kingdom of France would be unconquerable if
the ordinance of Charles had been enlarged or maintained。
But the scanty wisdom of man； on entering into an affair which looks
well at first； cannot discern the poison that is hidden in it； as I have
said above of hectic fevers。 Therefore； if he who rules a principality
cannot recognize evils until they are upon him； he is not truly wise；
and this insight is given to few。 And if the first disaster to the Roman
Empire should be examined； it will be found to have menced only with
the enlisting of the Goths； because from that time the vigour of the
Roman Empire began to decline； and all that valour which had raised it
passed away to others。
I conclude； therefore； that no principality is secure without having its
own forces； on the contrary； it is entirely dependent on good fortune；
not having the valour which in adversity would defend it。 And it has
always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so
uncertain or unstable as fame or power not founded on its own strength。
And one's own forces are those which are posed either of subjects；
citizens； or dependants； all others are mercenaries or auxiliaries。 And
the way to take ready one's own forces will be easily found if the rules
suggested by me shall be reflected upon； and if one will consider how
Philip； the father of Alexander the Great； and many re